Wed on His Terms: Million-Dollar Marriage Merger. Charlene Sands

that.”

      â€œI know. And I can’t change how I feel. I may want you physically, but you’ll never really have me. I can’t love you again. I won’t. You’ll never own my heart.”

      â€œAs long as you’re faithful to me, that’s all I’ll ask for now.”

      Stunned by the statement, Rena lifted her head off the pillow. “You know me, Tony. I’d never even consider—”

      He turned onto his side again to face her. “What you don’t know about me is that I’d never consider it, either. But I’m a man with physical needs, and since we’re married and compatible in bed, there’s no reason not to make love.”

      â€œYou mean, have sex? Because without love, it’s just sex,” Rena pointed out.

      He lifted a strand of her hair, eyeing it as he let it fall from his fingers. “Just sex?” Tony cocked her a playful grin. “Even better.”

      Rena shook her head in bewilderment.

      â€œC’mon, Rena. We’ve cleared the air. I get it. You don’t love me, but you crave my body.”

      â€œI never said that!”

      â€œOh, no?” he said innocently. He was such a tease. He crushed his mouth to hers and kissed her passionately. She’d hardly come up for air when he grabbed her hand and set it on his chest. “Touch me.”

      Crisp scattered hairs filled her palm and underneath muscles rippled. She wove her hand up along his sculpted shoulders then down to tease his flattened nipple. His intake of air let her know he enjoyed her flicking her finger over him, the way he had to her.

      Laying her hand against his torso, she inched her way down, tempted by a perfect body and powered by the sounds of Tony’s quick jagged breaths. Okay, so maybe she did crave his body. She had memories that wouldn’t go away. Sexual flashes that entered her mind at the most inopportune times. She’d remembered how he’d made her feel, how potent his lovemaking was, how satisfied she’d been afterward. If anything, Tony had matured into a stunning male specimen. He knew how to give pleasure, and he knew how to take it. He’d always made Rena feel special and cherished, no matter what act they performed.

      She slid her hand farther down, slipping below Tony’s waistline. When she reached the elastic band of his boxers, she hesitated, tentative in her approach. Myriad thoughts flitted through her mind one right after the other, but Tony interrupted that train of thought. “Just let go, Rena,” he whispered. “We both need this.”

      Rena touched him then, her hand gliding over silken skin. His arousal shocked her, though she didn’t know why it should. He was a virile man, and they were in bed together, ready to consummate their marriage.

      â€œI want you.” Tony’s low tone held no room for doubt. He cupped her chin and brought her lips to his. There was a sense of urgency to his kiss, yet he remained gentle and patient, waiting for her to respond. She stroked him with trebling fingers, bringing him to a fuller state of arousal.

      â€œThis is not—” Rena began, but Tony kissed her again, his mouth generous and giving, coaxing her to fulfill their destiny. Torn by indecision, she shoved all thoughts of the past years aside and tried to focus on the future.

      â€œWe’ll have a life together, Rena.” Tony’s words mirrored her own. Her life included him now, whether planned or not, whether she liked it or not. She had no other option now.

      â€œI know,” she said, finally resigning to her fate.

      Tony removed his boxers then placed her hand back on him, skin to skin, and her insides turned to jelly. There was life to Tony, a vitality she’d missed during these past months. He filled the void, the hollowness that beseeched her since she’d become a widow. She had her precious child, yes, but this intimacy fulfilled her need to feel alive again.

      She stroked him until his pleasure heightened. Instincts, or perhaps recollection, told her that he’d reached his limit. He flipped her onto her back, and in one quick sweep, he removed her nightgown, pulling it up and over her head. His kisses burned her through and through, and his hands roamed over her, touching, tormenting, caressing and teasing every inch of her skin. His voice was low and consumed with passion. “You’re as beautiful as I remember.”

      He brought his mouth down to suckle her breast, his tongue wetting her with long swipes. After laving each nipple, he blew on them, and every ounce of her body prickled with need. Her pulse raced with exquisite excitement. Unmindful of any repercussions, she relished the thrill of the moment.

      Tony praised her body with quiet expletives and cherished every limb before moving on to touch her at the apex of her legs. His palm covered her, and she arched up.

      â€œYou’re ready for me, sweetheart,” he acknowledged. Without hesitation, he rose over her. She gazed up at him, and images of their past, of doing this very thing with nothing but love in their hearts, played out in her mind. She’d relished their joining, eager to show the man she loved how much he meant to her. It had been perfect. Blissful. Exciting.

      Tony stared into her eyes in the dawn light, and she witnessed that same spark. The memories had come back to him, as well. His lips lifted and his eyelids lowered. Then he gripped her hips and she squeezed her eyes shut, ready for him to take her.

      â€œLook at me,” he commanded.

      â€œTony,” she murmured, popping her eyes open. It was clear what he wanted. No memories of any other man. No memories of David.

      He nodded when their eyes met, apparently satisfied, then he moved inside her with extreme care. Rena adjusted to his size and accommodated him with her body. It wasn’t long before his thrusts magnified, their bodies sizzled hot and the burn she’d remembered from long ago returned fiercely.

      Infinitely careful and recklessly wild, Tony made love to her, seeing to her needs, giving as much as taking, gentle at times and feral at others. He was the perfect lover—that much hadn’t changed. And all the while, Rena gave up her body to him but held firmly onto her emotions.

      It was just sex.

      And as Tony brought her to the peak of enjoyment, her skin damp, her body throbbing for the release that would complete her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and arched up, her bones melting but her heart firmly intact.

      Tony wrapped Rena in his arms. They lay quietly together on the bed after making love, each deep in thought. It had been months since he’d had sex, and his release had come with powerful force. Rena had responded to him as she always had, with wild abandon. At least her body had reacted as he’d hoped. He knew what she liked and how to please her. She’d been his first love, too, and a man doesn’t easily forget how to please the woman he loves.

      They’d been so young back then, full of dreams and plans for the future. But Tony had been a rebel. He’d hated being under his father’s thumb. He hadn’t wanted any part of the family business, not when racing cars meant so much to him. He’d never planned on leaving Rena behind. It just happened. While his professional life had been great, his personal life had suffered.

      Once he’d become a champion, he had women knocking at his door at all hours of the night. They followed him from race to race. They’d called him, showed up when he least expected it. Beautiful, sexy, outrageous women. He’d never fallen in love with any of them. He’d had flings and a few casual relationships that never lasted more than a couple of months.

      He’d held hope for Rena in the early years, but he hadn’t blamed her for giving up on him. He hadn’t known what the future held for him other than racing cars. He was on the road a great deal of time, thrilled by his success but heartbroken about Rena.